Eli Whitney and the Cotton Gin — Reading Comprehension

Eli Whitney was an American inventor who changed farming in the United States. In the late 1700s, many farmers in the South grew cotton. Picking seeds out of raw cotton was slow and hard work. Workers could only clean a small amount each day.

In 1793, Eli Whitney built a machine called the cotton gin. The word "gin" is short for "engine." Whitney's machine used wire teeth to pull cotton fibers through a screen. The small seeds could not pass through. The cotton gin could clean as much cotton in one day as many workers could in weeks.

Whitney's idea was simple, but it solved a big problem. He wanted to help farmers work faster and easier. He also hoped his invention would help the country's economy. Whitney once said, "One man and a horse will do more than fifty men with the old machines."

The cotton gin changed life in the South. More farmers began to grow cotton as their main crop. Cotton became known as "King Cotton" because it made so much money. However, the cotton gin also caused some problems. It made cotton farming more profitable, so plantation owners used more slavery to grow and pick cotton. This led to important changes in American history.

Eli Whitney did not get rich from his invention. Many people copied his machine without paying him. Still, his cotton gin helped shape the country. Whitney later invented new ways to make products faster, called mass production. He used interchangeable parts to build guns for the government. This idea changed how factories worked.

Today, Eli Whitney is remembered for his creativity and problem-solving. The cotton gin was a small machine with a big impact. It made cotton a powerful crop, and it changed how people lived and worked in America.

Interesting Fact: Eli Whitney's cotton gin was less than two feet long but could clean fifty pounds of cotton a day!

Who invented the cotton gin?

What year was the cotton gin invented?

What crop did the cotton gin help with?

How did the cotton gin change farming?

Why did the cotton gin increase slavery?

What idea did Whitney use for making guns?

Eli Whitney became rich from his invention. True or false?

What does 'profitable' mean?